Synthetic Turf Conserves More Than Three Billion Gallons of Water and Helps the Environment

ATLANTA, GA – While millions of people, businesses, schools and
homeowners use synthetic turf for landscape and play, one of its major
beneficiaries is the environment. As of 2011, the estimated total amount of
synthetic turf installed in North America annually conserves more than three billion
gallons of water, significantly reduces smog emissions and eliminates close to
a billion pounds of harmful fertilizers and pesticides. The industry has also recycled
more than 105 million used tires.

"Synthetic turf has made a very positive impact on the
environment,” said Rick Doyle, President of the
Synthetic Turf Council. "The synthetic turf industry continues to innovate to
enhance synthetic turf’s numerous eco-friendly benefits that empower users to
reduce their carbon footprint.”

Significant Environmental Impact

Conserves
over three billion gallons of water. Water is one of our most precious
resources. More than 6,000 synthetic turf fields are currently being used in
the United States, with each full-sized field
saving between 500,000 to 1,000,000 gallons plus of water each year. During
2010, that meant at least three billion gallons of water, and perhaps as much
as six billion or more, was saved through the use of synthetic turf
fields.

Eliminates
the need to water lawns. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), over one-third of residential water is used for lawn irrigation
nationwide, totaling more than 4 billion gallons of water a day. The Southern
Nevada Water Authority also estimates that every square foot of grass replaced
with synthetic turf saves an additional 55 gallons of water per year. Therefore, an average lawn of 1,800 square
feet will save 99,000 gallons of water a year if landscaped with synthetic turf
– about 70% of a homeowner’s water bill, or up to $500.

Eradicates
the use of almost a billion pounds of pesticides and fertilizers. The EPA
has identified runoff of toxic pesticides and fertilizers as a principal cause
of water pollution. In Florida
alone, the EPA estimates that about 1,000 miles of rivers and streams, 350,000
acres of lakes and 900 square miles of estuaries are impaired by runoff of
pesticides and fertilizers. Synthetic turf eliminates the need for nearly a
billion pounds of harmful pesticides, fertilizers, fungicides and herbicides
which are used to maintain grass.

Keeps
more than 105 million used tires out of landfills. Most of the synthetic
turf sports fields and landscape applications in use incorporate crumb rubber
infill recycled from used tires, keeping more than 105 million used tires out
of landfills.

Depending
on field usage, synthetic turf can lower consumption of energy, raw materials
and solid waste generation. BASF Corporation performed an Eco-Efficiency
Analysis measuring environmental and economical impacts of synthetic turf
athletic fields with professionally installed and maintained grass
alternatives. According to BASF, among
the major findings of the study was that the average life cycle costs over 20
years of a natural grass field are 15 percent higher than the synthetic turf
alternatives, even when factoring in a replacement synthetic turf field during
that time. Released in November 2010,
the life cycle assessment found that with typical field usage, synthetic turf
had a lower consumption of energy, raw materials and solid waste generation
than natural grass fields. BASF’s eco-efficiency analysis is an award-winning
and strategic tool, based on the ISO 14040 standard for lifecycle analysis,
which quantifies the sustainability of products or processes.

Prevents
smog and noxious emissions. According
to the EPA, lawn mowers are a significant source of pollution that impairs lung
function, inhibits plant growth, and is a key ingredient of smog. A gas-powered push mower emits as much hourly
pollution as 11 cars, and a riding mower emits as much as 34 cars. In addition, the EPA estimates that over 17
million gallons of gas and oil are spilled each year from refueling lawn
equipment; that is more oil than was spilled by the Exxon Valdez.

Reduces
grass clippings. The EPA estimated
in 2002 that 12% of what goes into landfills is yard waste. During the summer months, clippings can
account for nearly half of a community’s waste.
Switching to synthetic turf reduces this significant source of
environmental pollution.

Schools, parks, businesses, municipalities, homeowners,
golf courses and others using synthetic turf can receive Leadership in Energy
and Environmental Design (LEED) credits for Water Efficient Landscaping, Stormwater
Design, Recycled Content and Rapidly Renewable Materials from the U.S. Green Building
Council. Many synthetic turf
companies have also created products that are 100% recyclable. ‘Green’ options also exist for recycling,
reusing and disposing of infill and the synthetic turf itself. The industry is
working hard to develop further eco-friendly end-of-life disposal solutions.

About the Synthetic Turf Council

Based in Atlanta, the
Synthetic Turf Council was founded in 2003 to promote the industry and to assist
buyers and end users with the selection, use and maintenance of synthetic turf
systems in sports field, golf, municipal parks, airports, landscape and
residential applications. The organization is also a resource for
current, credible, and independent research on the safety and environmental
impact of synthetic turf. Membership includes builders, landscape
architects, testing labs, maintenance providers, manufacturers, suppliers,
installation contractors, infill material suppliers and other specialty service
companies. For more information, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org.